Upcoming BBC Documentary Will Ask 'Is Football Racist?'

By
Tambay A. Obenson
|
Shadow and ActJune 20, 2012 at 11:04AM

BBC3 is prepping an hour-long documentary that will tackle racism in football (or what we call soccer here in the west) with plans to broadcast the film on the same day that the verdict in the racism trial of English professional footballer, and former captain of the England national football team, John Terry, is expected to be delivered.

BBC3 is prepping an hour-long documentary that will tackle racism in football (or what we call soccer here in the west) with plans to broadcast the film on the same day that the verdict in the racism trial of English professional footballer, and former captain of the England national football team, John Terry, is expected to be delivered.

In short, last November, Terry was investigated for an alleged verbal racist attack against Anton Ferdinand, during a match, reportedly calling him "a fucking black cunt." Terry was charged a month later with using racist language, and in February of this year, he was stripped of his position as captaincy for the second time. He was due to stand trial in July, and he reportedly has entered a "not guilty" plea.

The verdict of Terry’s trial is expected to be included in the film.

To be titled Is Football Racist?, the doc will feature former Premier League defender Clarke Carlisle (above photo) exploring racism in football, taking a look at...:

... tribalism of club fans, the lack of ethnic minorities on the terraces, the lack of South Asians on the pitch and the lack of black managers in the professional game. Other contributors will include Jewish comedian David Baddiel, former football hooligan Cass Pennant and the “Punjabi Wolves”, the UK’s largest group of ethnic minority football supporters who will give their view from the terraces.

Long-time readers of S&A will remember that a feature film based on the life of Cass Pennant was released some 3 years ago (we profiled it), starring none other than Nonso Anozie in the title role.

But discussion of racism in football/soccer in the European leagues especially, certainly isn't new. A Google search will reveal several incidents and fines as a result.

However, it's not something we've touched on much here, so I'd see this.